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South African National Parks offers a variety of accommodation types and standards. Prices are
dependent on location, size of unit and quality of experience. All of our South African National
Parks offer park/camp-run accommodation. Each park/camp has its own unique selection of
accommodation types.

Conserving nature since 1926

National parks offer visitors an unparalleled diversity of adventure tourism opportunities including
game
viewing, bush walks, canoeing and exposure to cultural and historical experiences. Conferences can
also be
organised in many of the parks. Read more...

But the very best sighting of the day was yet to come. It had been a VERY slow and quiet day – I even retreated to taking photos of trees as there had been nothing else on our afternoon drive (or at the camp during rest time). We were already back on our way to the camp when I saw something in the corner of my left eye. First I had thought it was just a dead trunk sticking out of an equally dead tree. But I made SO stop and reverse and reverse and reverse. And there it was: My first self-spotted owl! And sitting out in the open:

This would be our last night in the park and we were blessed to share it with rjm. Apart from the enjoyable conversation we were also treated to a delicious braai with kingklip and some fresh greens on top of it. It was an absolutely wonderful evening - thanks, R.

Alas, on our last day we had to leave with gate opening time sharp again. Luckily, it was November and we were allowed out half an hour earlier than two days before. Otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to stay at Uri if we wanted to catch our flight at Upington. In fact, for March I had to amend our booking for the last night from Uri to Kielie as the gates open only at 6.30 am then in contrast to 5.30 am in November.

Anyway. It was our last day and the KTP gave all to make sure we would come back. She still doesn’t know we will either way (Having said that, we'll see what the new lodges on the Bots side will do to the traffic in KTP and then of course, once the new camps / extentions have been realized...)

Right, it was getting late – relatively – and our mind was set on proceeding towards the main gate, when Spots started to chant. The sleepy head from the day before yesterday appeared on the dunes. Well, on the last day, any lion is welcome.

So, we were still with the naughty boy and his mind was firmly set on passing us and he came closer

He pretended not to be bothered by our presence at all and I don’t often roll up the window when lions walk by, but this one had a collar and I was sure he didn’t wear it just for fun. Although back then I didn’t know that it was for tracking purposes as he and his mate had been leaving the park to visit the cattle farmers nearby.

Well, his attitude changed and he gave us the look

Sorry, pics are not the best - but our windows were quite dirty at that stage of our journey.

No more photos after that as he had reached the back of the car.... And turned around and had a go at us!!! He pounced at our tail and at the same time uttered a soft roar. A seriously scary encounter! Never have had anything like that happen before and don't think I want to to experience it again.

Luckily, SO had kept the engine running all the while and we made a run for it… with a lion tailgating us. But once our car had got a grip again on the sandy road we were off and watched a confused lion from safe distance.

Last edited by Lionspoon on Sat Feb 16, 2013 5:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Our trip ended with a BANG! Definitely the best sighting of an eland we had on this trip and probably the last one for a long time as the elands hadn’t been around for quite some years and it’s likely that they won’t be there anymore the next time we visit. Or the time after that. Or the time after that. Well, you get my drift.